Hanging Systems

ABSTRACT

A hanger arrangement is disclosed to support an object in the corner of a room. It includes a bracket with a corner portion to form to the walls of the inside corner of a room. The bracket includes a cantilever portion to support the object. The joint angle between the cantilever portion and corner portion is between 45 and 82 degrees. Additional embodiments are disclosed related to the L-shaped profile of the cantilever and its hook adaptations to hold the object.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating a picture frame displayedin a corner of a room by mounting upon a hanger arrangement.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view illustrating another picture frame thatwill be hung from a solid hoop from a hanger arrangement aftercompletion of installation.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view illustrating the portion that forms tothe corner of the room mounted by two fasteners to both walls of theinside corner of the room.

FIG. 4A shows a side view, FIG. 4B shows a top view, and FIG. 4C shows afront view, all illustrating the bracket including the angle of thejoint, the L-shaped cross section and the mounting holes.

FIG. 5A shows a side view, FIG. 5B shows a top view, and FIG. 5C shows afront view, all illustrating the extension member including the L-shapedcross section, the locking screw and the distal end mounting hooks.

FIG. 6A shows a side view, FIG. 6B shows a top view, and FIG. 6C shows afront view, all illustrating an alternate bracket including the angle ofthe joint, the L-shaped cross section, and the predetermined length ofthe cantilever portion selected for a specific sized object.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present Hanging Systems will now be discussed in detail with regardto the attached drawing figures, which were briefly described above. Inthe following description, numerous specific details are set forthillustrating the Applicant's best mode for practicing the HangingSystems and enabling one of ordinary skill in the art to make and usethe Hanging Systems. It will be obvious, however, to one skilled in theart that the present Hanging Systems may be practiced without many ofthese specific details. In other instances, well-known manufacturingtechniques, materials selection, design choices, and other method stepshave not been described in particular detail in order to avoidunnecessarily obscuring this disclosure.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating a picture frame 102displayed in a corner of a room by mounting upon a hanger arrangement100. Hanger arrangement 100 allows installation of mounting hardware ina simple, convenient, and handy manner. Hanger arrangement 100 includesoptimization of the support strength and hanging capacity for the objectbalanced against the overall weight of the bracket 106 and othermounting hardware. Hanger arrangement 100 includes simple installationsteps. Hanger arrangement 100 provides concealment for the mountinghardware after display of the object in the corner.

Picture frame 102 is displayed in the corner room. Picture frame 102 isattached to a picture frame wire 116, as shown. Picture frame wire 116hangs from hooks at the distal end of bracket 106, more specifically theextension member 114. Alternately, (not shown), picture frame wire mayhang from hooks at the distal end of bracket 106. Bracket 106 is affixedto the corner of the room using fasteners (which are more clearlyillustrated in FIG. 3). Depending on the size and dimensions of pictureframe 102, extension member 114 may be adjusted to a length sufficientto allow picture frame 102 to hang in the space between the two walls104.

The picture frame may be any type of decorative object, for example,picture frames, plaques, ornaments, rugs, or other decorations suitablefor hanging on walls.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view illustrating another picture frame 102that will be hung from a solid hoop from a hanger arrangement aftercompletion of installation. To install the bracket 106, a few stepswould need to be employed. First, the installer would select a hangingheight at the corner of the room. Second, the installer would hold thebracket 106, in the corner with one hand while screwing in screws 122with the other hand.

After both screws 122 are in position, the installer would decidewhether or not the extension member 114 would be necessary or desirablefor the installation. Third, the extension member 114 may be optionallypositioned to allow the picture frame to freely hang without obstructionfrom walls 104. Extension member 114 would be securely held in placeusing locking screw 136 (more clearly shown and described at FIG. 5).

Finally, the picture would be disposed upon the hooks at the distal endof the bracket 106. The hook or hooks used may be selected by theinstaller depending on the picture frame. For example, if the pictureframe has a solid loop hook (as shown in FIG. 2), the hook near the apexof the bracket 106 or extension member 114 may be used. Alternately, theinstaller may choose to use the hooks positioned at the top of theflanges of the L-shaped cross section when the picture frame will besuspended with picture frame wire or other flexible means of attachment.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view illustrating the portion of bracket 106that forms to the corner of the room mounted by two fasteners to bothwalls 104 of the inside corner of the room. This figure shows the screws122 disposed in the attachment holes 130 (See FIG. 4) of bracket 106.The screws 122 have been screwed into walls 104, as shown. In mostframed buildings, the corner will have two wall studs 108 in the corner,as shown. Sometimes, there will not be a wall stud directly into thediagonal corner of the room, rather this area might be void ofstructure. The arrangement, position and spacing of the attachment holes130, and thereby, the screws 122, may be selected to engage the wallstuds 108 when placed in a building that exhibits typical framedbuilding construction. Since most wall studs come in standarddimensions, the attachment holes may be positioned to engage the centerportion of the wall stud. Alternately, the attachment holes may bepositioned to engage any portion of the wall stud but allow for adequateclearance for a screwdriver, hand, or other tool while positioning,engaging or screwing in the fasteners.

The engagement of the screws 122 with wall studs 108 allows bracket 106to support heavier loads than without such engagement.

Attachment and mounting may be by any arrangement or means for attachinghardware to walls, wall studs or corners, such as, for example, screwsand holes, nails, pegs, spikes and other types of fasteners.

Also, this figure shows a perspective view of the joint between cornerportion 110 of bracket 106 and cantilever portion 112. Weld 128 showswere the two portions form the desired angle of bracket 106. (See FIG. 4for further discussion of selection of the angle).

FIG. 4A shows a side view, FIG. 4B shows a top view, and FIG. 4C shows afront view, all illustrating bracket 106 including the angle of thejoint, the L-shaped cross section and the attachment holes 130.

Bracket 106 may be constructed out of hot rolled bar angle. Hot rolledbar angle typically has a L-shaped cross section, as shown. Othermaterials may be used, for example, sheet metal, which may be lessexpensive. Hot rolled bar angle does not need further bending orstamping, so there would be no loss in material strength along the apexof the L-shaped cross section during the later steps of manufacture.Other types of materials were tested, however, they may result inincreased costs or decreased strength to weight ratios.

When the corner portion 110 and the cantilever portion 112 are joined atan angle, the structures support each other, in a manner similar to atruss, that is, deformation of either portion would require deformationof the other portion. This arrangement may increase overall strength.

The angle of the joint between the cantilever portion 112 and the cornerportion 110 may be selected to accomplish several design objectives. Theangle determines the ratio of pulling forces to shearing forces that areexerted on screws 122. The angle determines the rise of the objectrelative to the mounting position on the wall, which helps to concealbracket 106 and other mounting hardware. The angle and cantilever lengthtogether determines the final distance at with the object may hang fromthe corner. With an extension member, this final minimum distance may belengthened to a maximum dimension nearly double the length. Finally, theangle helps determine the amount of support provided at the distal sideof the bracket and the maximum weight of the object supported.Inventor's testing showed that the smaller bracket (shown in FIG. 4)with an extension arm in the fully extended position was capable ofsupporting a weight of 50 pounds (22.68 kilograms). The angle may beabout 75 degrees or 77 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle may rangefrom 65 to 82 degrees. In other embodiments, the angle may be 45 to 65degrees. By joining the cantilever portion to the bottom side of thecorner portion, the upward and outward angle will help to accomplishthese various design objectives.

The joint of the angle may be by any angling means or structuraljoining, for example, varying degrees of angle, welding, forming,stamping, etc.

Likewise, the length of the cantilever portion may be selected toaccomplish similar objectives. The length of the cantilever helpsgeometrically determine the min and max horizontal size of the pictureframe that may be displayed. The angle of the joint and the length ofthe cantilever portion may be predetermined to support popular framesizes. That is, by selecting a particular popular frame, the minimumdistance from the corner may be calculated along with an estimate forthe weight of the frame. Using these estimates, a bracket may beconstructed with the desired angle and length of cantilever to fit thatsize frame (without the use of an extension member).

Bracket 106 includes attachment holes 130, which have been placed nearthe top side of the corner portion 110. Attachment holes 130 may bepositioned so that fasteners will engage wall studs 108 when the cornerportion 110 is positioned in the corner of a framed room, as discussedin FIG. 3, above.

Corner portion 110 may be generally shaped like the letter “L” and fitinto inside corners that are also L-shaped. The flanges of 110 maytypically be the same size.

Corner portion 110 may include clearance 134 for the corner. Clearance134 may be formed by shaving or reducing the apex of the L-shapedprofile to prevent the corner portion 110 from touching the corner.Clearance 134 may prevent force from being applied to the corner.Clearance 134 may prevent damage to corner, for example, cracking ofpaint or stretching, tearing of wall paper, or damage to other types ofwall finish. Clearance 134 may also allow for irregular corner surfaces.

The corner portion may be any corner forming means or arrangement forconforming to both walls of a corner simultaneously, for example, byusing an L-shape, a V-shape, or other shape that may be typically usedin the corner of a room.

Cantilever portion 112 may include apex slot 132 and locking nut reliefarea 140 for extension member 114, as shown. Apex slot 132 is a slot inthe apex of cantilever portion 112 that allows for continuouspositioning of extension member 114. Locking nut relief area 140provides a flat section for the locking screw 136 to engage cantileverportion 112 and provide additional friction to prevent movement of theextension member 114 or locking screw 136 when the locking screw 136 isfully engaged.

The cantilever portion may be any cantilever means or structure tosupport an object while supported along one side, for example, anL-shape angle iron, a steel rod, a tube, or other members that arecapable of such support.

The distal side of cantilever portion 112 provides hooks for hangingpicture frames and objects. The top side of the cantilever arm providestwo hooks 124 that may be suited for holding picture frame wire. Byproviding two hooks, this allows for superior side to side positioningcompared to a single hook when using flexible picture frame wire, whichcan be known for its less precise nature. (See FIG. 1. for a renderingof engagement of a picture frame wire with the hooks). The bottom sideof the cantilever arm, near the apex of the L-shaped profile, provides asingle hook 126 that may be suited for holding solid loops. (See FIG. 2for a rendering of engagement of a solid hoop with the hook.) Byproviding hook 126 at the bottom side, the solid loop may engage withthe portion of bracket 106 that extends furthest from the corner. Hook126 may be useful in engaging cardboard or steel loops and holes in theframe or picture backing. The inclusion of hooks 124 and hook 126 allowfor bracket 106 to be used with or without extension member 114. Hooksmay be any type of adaptations or means for holding picture frames, forexample, flexible wire stays, studs, loops or portions thereof,fasteners, ledges, etc, which may form portions of circles, triangularor other shapes suitable for hanging objects.

With the use of hot rolled bar angle, the entire bracket may beconstructed with a single joint, that is, the corner portion, thecantilever portion, clearances, reliefs, adaptations and hooks. Allother features may be constructed through machining, which results in amonolithic, unitary, single and integral piece.

FIG. 5A shows a side view, FIG. 5B shows a top view, and FIG. 5C shows afront view, all illustrating the extension member 114 including theL-shaped cross section, locking screw 136 and the distal side mountinghooks. Extension member 114 may also be created from hot rolled anglebar, or other materials, similar to bracket 106, as shown. Extensionmember 114 may include an L-shaped profile. Extension member 114 mayhave hooks similar to the distal end of cantilever portion 112,including picture frame wire hooks 124 and loop hook 126, as shown.

Extension member 114 may be removably attached to bracket 106 bypositioning the extension member 114 into the top side of cantileverportion 112 and inserting the locking screw 136 with washer 137 into thescrew-threaded hole 138 through the bottom side of the cantileverportion 112, as shown in FIG. 1. The bottom of the apex of the L-shapeof the extension member 114 may be shaved or relieved to form lockingnut relief area 140. Locking nut relief area 140 allows the flanges ofextension member 114 to rest more fully on the flanges of the cantileverportion 112, which may help produce more friction and prevent movementor slippage of the extension member 114.

Extension member 114 may be angled on the proximal side (the sideclosest to the corner portion 110) at an angle to allow the extensionmember 114 to fully recede into corner portion 110. Angle cut 142 allowsextension member 114 a full range of adjustability from nearly thelength of cantilever portion 112 to full extension, as shown.

FIG. 6A shows a side view, FIG. 6B shows a top view, and FIG. 6C shows afront view, all illustrating an alternate bracket including the angle ofthe joint, the L-shaped cross section, and the predetermined length ofthe cantilever portion selected for a specific sized object. In thisembodiment, the cantilever portion has been extended to allow for largerpicture frames. This embodiment may use the same extension member as theembodiment shown in FIG. 4. To support a larger picture frame,cantilever portion 212 has been lengthened. Apex slot 232 remains thesame size, and, remains positioned near the distal end of cantileverportion 212. Locking nut relief 240 is positioned similarly with respectto apex slot 232, as shown. In this embodiment, the angle between cornerportion 210 and cantilever portion 212 has been increased by severaldegrees. From the front view (FIG. 6C), it can be seen that thecantilever arm rises above the point of attachment (compare to FIG. 4C).This selection of angle and length of cantilever arm may be made toincrease the concealment attributes at the expense of other attributes.

Although applicant has described applicant's best mode and otherembodiments of the present Hanging Systems, it will be understood thatthe broadest scope of this invention includes such modifications asdiverse application of technology, variance of method steps, choice ofmaterials, selection of sizes and shapes, etc. Such scope is limitedonly by the below claims as read in connection with the abovespecification. Further, many other advantages of applicant's inventionwill be apparent to those skilled in the art from the detaileddescriptions and the claims.

1. A hanger arrangement to support an object in the corner of a roomcomprising: a bracket, wherein the bracket comprises a corner portion toform to both walls of the inside corner of the room, wherein the cornerportion has a bottom side, a cantilever portion to support the object,and a joint to angle the cantilever portion from the bottom side to thecorner portion at an angle of 45 to 82 degrees upwardly and outwardlyfrom the corner after attachment to the wall, an adaptation to supportan object positioned on the distal end of the cantilever portion; and aplurality of fasteners to allow fastening of the corner portion to bothinside walls in the corner of the room.
 2. The hanger arrangement ofclaim 1: wherein the joint comprises an angle of 65 to 82 degrees. 3.The hanger arrangement of claim 1: wherein the joint comprises an angleof 75 to 77 degrees.
 4. The hanger arrangement of claim 1: wherein thearrangement does not comprise any gusset to further assist supportingthe object between the corner portion and the cantilever portion.
 5. Thehanger arrangement of claim 1: wherein the corner portion has anL-shaped cross section substantially perpendicular to its length; andwherein the cantilever portion has an L-shaped cross sectionsubstantially perpendicular to its length; and wherein the jointsubstantially aligns the apex of the L-shaped sections of the cornerportion and the cantilever portion.
 6. The hanger arrangement of claim5: wherein corner portion further comprises sufficient clearance toprevent the apex of the L-shaped section from contacting the corner ofthe room.
 7. The hanger arrangement of claim 1 further comprising: anextending member to extend the cantilever portion upwardly and outwardlyfrom the corner forming means from about the length of the cantileverportion to almost double the length of the cantilever portion;adaptations to engage an object positioned on the distal end of theextending member.
 8. The hanger arrangement of claim 1 furthercomprising: adaptations to support an object positioned on the distalend of the cantilever portion; wherein corner portion further comprisessufficient clearance to prevent the apex of the L-shaped section fromcontacting the corner of the room; wherein the cantilever portion has anL-shaped cross section substantially perpendicular to its length;wherein the joint substantially aligns the apex of the L-shaped sectionsof the corner portion and the cantilever portion; wherein theadaptations, corner portion and cantilever portion are a single,integral piece.
 9. The hanger arrangement of claim 8 further comprising:an extending member to extend the cantilever portion upwardly andoutwardly from about the length of the cantilever portion to almostdouble the length of the cantilever portion; adaptations to support anobject positioned on the distal end of the extending member.
 10. Ahanger arrangement to support an object in the corner of a roomcomprising: a bracket, wherein the bracket comprises a corner portion toform to both walls of the inside corner of the room, wherein the cornerportion has a substantially L-shaped profile relative to its length, acantilever portion to support the object, wherein the cantilever portionhas a substantially L-shaped profile relative to its length, and a jointto fixedly join the cantilever portion to the corner portion and toalign the apex of the L-shaped profiles of the corner portion and thecantilever portion, adaptations, positioned on the distal end of thecantilever portion, to support an object; and a plurality of fastenersto attach the corner portion of the bracket to both walls in the insidecorner of the room.
 11. The hanger arrangement of claim 10: wherein thearrangement does not comprise any gusset to assist supporting theobject.
 12. The hanger arrangement of claim 10: wherein corner portionfurther comprises sufficient clearance to prevent the apex of theL-shaped section from contacting the corner of the room and to preventdamage to the wall finish.
 13. The hanger arrangement of claim 10further comprising: an extending member to extend upwardly and outwardlyfrom the cantilever portion; and adaptations positioned on the distalend of the extending member to support an object.
 14. The hangerarrangement of claim 13: wherein the arrangement does not comprise anygusset to assist supporting the object; and wherein corner portionfurther comprises sufficient clearance to prevent the apex of theL-shaped section from contacting the corner of the room and to preventdamage to the wall finish.
 15. A hanger arrangement to support an objectin the corner of a room comprising: corner forming means for forming toboth walls of an inside corner of a room; attaching means for attachingthe corner forming means to the walls and wall studs in the corner ofthe room; cantilevering means for cantilevering an object; and anglingmeans for angling the cantilevering means upwardly and outwardly fromthe corner forming means at an angle of about 65 to 82 degrees.
 16. Theapparatus of claim 15: wherein the corner forming means and thecantilevering means have L-shaped sections relative to their long axis;wherein the angling means further substantially aligns the apex of theL-shaped sections of the corner forming means and the cantileveringmeans; wherein the arrangement does not compress any further gusset orbrace to support the object.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15 furthercomprising: corner clearing means for clearing the apex of the cornerforming means and reducing any force applied directly into the corner ofthe room to help prevent damage to the corner.
 18. The apparatus ofclaim 15 further comprising: extending means for extending thecantilever means upwardly and outwardly from the corner forming means.19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein: wherein the cantilever meansfurther comprises sufficient length to suspend a predetermined sizepicture frame from a sufficient distance from the corner such that thepicture frame can hang without contacting the walls.
 20. The apparatusof claim 15 wherein: corner clearing means for clearing the apex of thecorner forming means and reducing any force applied directly into thecorner of the room to help prevent damage to the corner; and extendingmeans for extending the cantilever means upwardly and outwardly from thecorner forming means; wherein the corner forming means and thecantilevering means have L-shaped sections relative to their long axis;wherein the angling means further substantially aligns the apex of theL-shaped sections of the corner forming means and the cantileveringmeans; wherein the cantilever means further comprises sufficient lengthto suspend a predetermined size picture frame from a sufficient distancefrom the corner such that the picture frame can hang without contactingthe walls.
 21. A hanger arrangement to support an object on a wallcomprising: a bracket, wherein the bracket comprises a cantileverportion to support the object, wherein the cantilever comprises anL-shaped profile relative to its length, wherein the L-shaped profilecomprises an apex between its flanges, and wherein the cantileverportion is positioned with both flanges facing upwardly when the bracketis affixed to a wall in an operable position; a bottom hook to hold theobject, wherein the hook is formed from the cantilever portion at thedistal side of the cantilever portion, wherein the hook is positioned infront of the apex of the cantilever portion; a pair of top hooks to holdthe object, wherein one hook is formed from the cantilever portion atthe top of each flange at the distal side of the cantilever portion;wherein the cantilever portion, the bottom hook and the pair of tophooks comprise a single, integral piece.
 22. The hanger arrangement ofclaim 21 comprising: the bottom hook is structured and arranged to holdobjects by a non-flexible adaptation to support the object.
 23. Thehanger arrangement of claim 21 comprising: the pair of top hooks isstructured and arranged to hold objects by flexible adaptation tosupport the object.
 24. The hanger arrangement of claim 23 comprising:the bottom hook is structured and arranged to hold objects by anon-flexible adaptation to support the object.
 25. The hangerarrangement of claim 23 wherein: the non-flexible adaptation comprisesat least a portion of a loop and the flexible adaptation comprises awire.